Roof top load limits

"The reason I ask is that my new 70 Series ......." That's gotta tell you something.

Whoops! Missed that. Read the profile and obviously got the out-of-date info.

Still, the same principle applies. Any weight high up needs to be taken into account when considering the vehicle's stability, regardless of whether it is legal or otherwise.

Cheers

Russ.

Agreed Russ and I acknowledged that in my original post and will consider it as I make my decision.

Just looking to see if there are any rules to consider as well.

Norm C

" I know there are common sense and safety aspects such as creating a top heavy load. I'm interested to see if there are any LEGAL restrictions."

Read the Post...not the profile

LOL

jd, I'm quite happy that I will be operating well within the manufacturer's (Toyota, Roscos and ARB (for suspension and GVM upgrade)) specs. I'll also be under the certified GVM for the vehicle. Unless there is some 'catch all' law I'm not aware of covering 'roof load' (like for example 'regardless of vehicle manufacturers specification, the roof load on any vehicle is not to be more than x% of the GVM of the vehicle), I can't see how I would have a problem with insurance. By the way, in my case, x would need to be 4 or less for there to be a problem.

But that goes to the heart of my question - is there a 'catch all' law I'm not aware of. I doubt it, but thought I'd ask. There is plenty of experience here on ExploreOz. If no one is aware of anything, I doubt it is even worth asking the govt authorities.

The protrusion issue you and jdwynne (above) raise is a fair one.

The floor and bottom half of the canopy are 1900mm wide. The roof is 1500mm wide. My boat loader will be about 1900mm wide, so although it will protrude past the roof, it will not be wider than the base and bottom half of the canopy and will be over 200mm narrower than the external mirrors.

I'm guessing that will be OK. I'll see if I can find some more info on protrusions to check further.

Norm, SA Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 1999 says the following about Protrusions:
(1) An object fitted to a vehicle must be designed, built and fitted to the vehicle in a way that minimises the likelihood of injury to a person making contact with the vehicle.
(2) However, subrule (1) does not apply to an object fitted to a vehicle if:
(a) the vehicle was designed before 1965 and the object was part of the design of the vehicle; or
(b) the object was fitted to the vehicle before 1965 in accordance with the law of the place where the object was fitted.

I believe this was taken from national model legislation when all the states were (basically) brought into line in 1999.

I didn't mean to skew your post though which was about weight. I raised protrusions as the only other related matter I could think of because I don't think there is any control on weight other than what's been discussed.
cheers

Here's the bit about mirrors in the SA reg's:
35-Rear vision mirrors
(1) A rear vision mirror or mirrors must be fitted to a motor vehicle as required by this rule so that a driver of the vehicle can clearly see by reflection the road behind the vehicle and any following or overtaking vehicle.
(2) At least 1 rear vision mirror must be fitted to:
(a) a car; and
(b) a motor trike with 2 front wheels; and
(c) a motor bike, or motor trike with 1 front wheel, built before July 1975.
(3) At least 1 rear vision mirror must be fitted to each side of:
(a) a motor vehicle with a GVM over 3.5 tonnes; and
(b) a motor bike, or motor trike with 1 front wheel, built after June 1975.
(4) A motor vehicle with a GVM not over 3.5 tonnes (except a motor vehicle mentioned in subrule (2) or (3)) must be fitted with:
(a) at least 1 rear vision mirror on the right side of the vehicle; and
(b) at least 1 rear vision mirror on the left side of the vehicle or inside the vehicle.
(5) A rear vision mirror fitted to a motor vehicle with a GVM over 3.5 tonnes must not project over 150 millimetres beyond the widest part (excluding lights, signalling devices and reflectors) of the vehicle or combination.
(6) However, the rear vision mirror may project not over 230 millimetres beyond the widest part of the vehicle or combination if it can fold to project not over 150 millimetres beyond the widest part.
36—Rear vision mirrors—surfaces
(1) A rear vision mirror required to be fitted to the side of a motor vehicle with a GVM over 3.5 tonnes must have a reflecting surface of at least 150 square centimetres.
(2) A rear vision mirror required to be fitted to the right side of a motor vehicle with a GVM over 3.5 tonnes must have a flat reflecting surface if:
(a) the motor vehicle has only 1 steering control; and
(b) the centre of the steering control is to the right of, or in line with, the centre of the motor vehicle.
(3) The reflecting surface of the rear vision mirrors that are required to be fitted to a motor bike or moped must:
(a) each be of the same curvature; and
(b) if convex, be part of a notional sphere with a radius of at least 1.2 metres.
37—Additional rear vision mirrors
A motor vehicle may be fitted with additional rear vision mirrors or mirror surfaces that are flat or convex or a combination of flat and convex surfaces.

Wow, is it any wonder that people get it wrong when there are that many regulations and sub-regulations just for rear vision mirrors and just in one state?

Sorry to go off on a tangent but over-regulation is a pet hate.
My tyres protrude from my base model 80 series less than 10mm but that is illegal. They aren't wide tyres; on a GXL with wider mud guards they would be legal. Or i could put a 10mm strip of rubber on the mud guard and the same tyres are legal! The standard front bumper bar sticks out to the side further than that. But it is OK to have 230mm mirrors sticking out to side swipe a pedestrian. It's OK for a B-double which is another 1/2 metre wider to drive at 100kph.

I have a vision of the Monty Python crew sitting in a room trying to make up the most stupid rules they can.....
"No, no, that won't do. How about 'You can only enter a roundabout at less than 20kph as long as the flowers are in bloom in the planter box in the middle, otherwise yell out at the top of your voice 'hey diddle, diddle' and charge through except if it is Monday. All in favour say Aye"